The neoliberal transformation of the state: A historical and philosophical review

The maturation of states and their attainment of the status of the modern state reflects, on the one hand, a historical trajectory; on the other hand, it indicates that the concept of the state itself has been subject to ongoing debate through various turning points, leading to a certain degree of conceptual clarity. Every major social and economic transformation has significantly impacted the structural configuration of the state. When the feudal mode of production and social order gave way to the capitalist model, the state both inherited this legacy and consolidated its ground to carry it forward. Although neoliberalism initially emerged as an economic theory, it has since evolved into the foundation of a broader social rationality—a mode of living and a practical way of thinking. The central issue explored here is the extent to which the state has become engaged with the neoliberal economic and social order, where it is situated in the developmental trajectory of neoliberalism, and to what degree the philosophical underpinnings of neoliberal rationality have been internalized by the state. Is the modern state still standing? Or has it relinquished its legitimacy derived from modern social philosophy in favor of a neoliberal model? If so, what is the new source of its legitimacy? This study seeks to address these questions, taking into account key historical moments. Keywords: Neoliberalism, State, Market, Strategy, Legitimacy.